It’s been quite the transformation for the Teessiders over the past three years, but with a difficult campaign ahead, the former Real Madrid defender is unsure where the club will be after another 150 matches.

related stories

DEFINITELY... MAYBE

How Oasis fan Pep Guardiola ensures Man City 'Don't Look Back in Anger'

Aitor Karanka guided Boro to promotion in only his second full season in charge

Reuters

Karanka's side finished second in the Championship last season to win automatic promotion to the Premier League

Karanka said: “I didn’t realise because if I had known (how hard it would be) I wouldn’t have said the things that I said three years ago.

“When you are new, you are sometimes brave because you are inexperienced. Sometimes that braveness can cause difficulties. But we have worked a lot from that day and we are now in the position we wanted to be.”

Heading into game 150, Karanka is loving every second of being Boro head coach, especially now they are competing in the Premier League.

Aitor Karanka shoved by Brighton assistant manager Colin Calderwood

“It’s been really tough to get into this position and when you go to play against Arsenal you show everybody that you have a proper team, proper players and a proper club behind you,” he said.

“And after the game you can spend a few minutes or half an hour with Arsene Wenger it is really good for me and I am enjoying it every single day.”

Aitor Karanka's Boro side held Arsene Wenger's Arsenal at the Emirates last week

Getty Images

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth will face off against Karanka's Boro in his 150th game in charge

Karanka added: "I hope and I think we are going to win more games at home than away.

“Because the day that we start to score goals – we are now playing with our normal consistency and we are adding confidence, especially after our last performance against Arsenal – for sure we are going to win more games at home.”